IN THE CITY
By Scott Wardwell
Just in the last few months Pen Air, the airline serving the Northern Maine Regional Airport, has made several changes with more on the way in response to comments received from passengers.
The first important change has been the increase in online booking options. To improve the level of passenger convenience, the airline has significantly reduced the time required for arrival at the airport prior to departure.
Pen Air has also been running fare specials like the current 12 Days of Holiday Cheer promotion that just finished. They plan to run fare specials in the future so be sure to check www.penair.com regularly or sign up to receive their promotional emails.
Also on www.penair.com, you will find the “Travel Tips: Booking, Bags and more” page to assist passengers in getting fully informed about the relatively seamless process of connecting with Delta, US Airways or United in Boston.
Pen Air has significantly increased their online presence. You can book tickets from Presque Isle to all markets served by Delta, US Airways and United by going to www.expedia.com and www.travelocity.com. For a complete list of online booking systems they have or plan to add go to the “Travel Tips: Booking, Bags and more” page on www.penair.com.
When purchasing tickets on these sites, care needs to be taken to ensure that you make a single reservation from Presque Isle to your final destination to ensure that your bags are transferred automatically in Boston. If you make one reservation for a round trip ticket from Presque Isle to Boston and then another from Boston to your final destination, your bags may not be forward automatically. In addition if you book two reservations and you arrive in Boston late, the connecting carrier does not have to rebook you on a later flight with no change fee. If you have any questions or concerns about getting this correct you have two options. You can contact Pen Air at 1-800-448-4226 or use your local travel agent.
Pen Air has also reduced their check-in time requirements. The new suggested times are as follows; 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure when traveling with checked bags; 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure when traveling without bags; and 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure passengers must be checked in and available at the gate for boarding.
Pen Air has also begun offering fare specials. You can register on www.penair.com to get e-mails as additional promotions become available. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.
Pen Air began operation at the Northern Maine Regional Airport on June 15th of this year but many travelers still have questions. The three most frequently asked questions are as follows; Can I connect in Boston to other carriers? What happens to my checked bags? Do I have to change terminals or go through security? To quickly answer the top question, you can connect in Boston to US Airways, United and Delta. For these three carriers your checked baggage is transferred automatically provided you have booked all segments of your trip on a single reservation. Lastly, you do not have to change terminals or go through security if you are connecting on US Airways.
Further details on these questions and more are on Pen Air’s website www.penair.com. Just follow the link “Travel Tips: Booking, Bags and more.”
Scott Wardwell is airport director for the city of Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional Airport. He can be reached at 764-2550 or via e-mail at scottw@flypresqueisle.com.
